Forage bermudagrass cultivar

ABSTRACT

“Goodwell” is a hybrid forage bermudagrass. It has larger stems and wider leaves, and produces a more dense sod compared to “hay type” varieties. The stem size and leaf width is much greater compared to “grazing type” varieties while the sod density is somewhat less compared to the grazing type varieties.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of prior filed U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application No. 60/946,516 entitled “FORAGE BERMUDAGRASSCULTIVAR,” filed Jun. 27, 2007, the contents of which are herebyincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

“GOODWELL” is a new forage bermudagrass. This cultivar is also referredto herein by its experimental designation LCB 84X 16-66.

LCB 84X 16-66 is an F₁ hybrid from the cross 74X 12-11×74X 12-12, madein 1984. The 74X 12-11 and 74X 12-12 parents were F₁ hybrids from thecrosses A9959×SS-28 and SS-16×Colorado, respectively. The SS-28 andSS-16 parents were F₁ hybrids from the crosses S-16×A9945 and S-16×9958,respectively. The S-16 parent was an F₁ hybrid from the crossA8800×A10421. A9945 (PI 206427), A9958 (PI 251809), A9959 (PI 253302),Colorado, and A8800 (PI 269370) are clonal accessions from Turkey,Italy, Yugoslavia, Colorado, and Afghanistan, respectively. Severalhundred F₁ hybrid plants from many crosses, including 74X 12-11×74X12-12, were initially screened in a planting at Lake Carl Blackwellduring the period 1985 through 1987. The LCB 84X 16-66 hybrid was one ofseveral plants selected from this nursery for further evaluation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

GOODWELL is an asexually reproducing forage bermudagrass. It has beenevaluated for forage yield in several trials, performing favorablyrelative to standard varieties. Data from field trials and observationalplantings indicate GOODWELL to be well-adapted to production underirrigation in the Oklahoma panhandle and adjacent areas of the HighPlains. Accordingly, the targeted use of the variety is in this regionunder irrigation. GOODWELL has generally initiated spring growthslightly earlier than other common varieties, suggesting an edge inwinter hardiness. GOODWELL also exhibits larger stems and wider leavescompared to other commercial available varieties. GOODWELL exhibitsgreater sod density that “hay type” varieties and taller growth than“grazing type” varieties. These are favorable characteristics forcertain situations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a photograph of a 9-10 week old growth of GOODWELL.

FIG. 2 is a comparative leaf image of MIDLAND 99 (left), GOODWELL(center), and GREENFIELD (right) varieties.

FIG. 3 is another comparative leaf image of MIDLAND 99 (left), GOODWELL(center), and GREENFIELD (right) varieties.

FIG. 4 is an image of two typical GOODWELL inflorescences, one with fourracemes and the other with five.

FIG. 5 is a close-up image of the typical inflorescence of a sampleGOODWELL plant showing five racemes.

FIG. 6 is an image of GOODWELL growing in a field trial next to A-12245,Sey Greenfield, Ozark, World Feeder, Vaughn's #1, and Midland 99.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Goodwell, a bermudagrass, Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. (LCB 84X 16-66) isan F₁ hybrid from the cross 74X 12-11×74X 12-12, made in 1984. The 74X12-11 and 74X 12-12 parents were F₁ hybrids from the crosses A9959×SS-28and SS-16×Colorado, respectively. The SS-28 and SS-16 parents were F₁hybrids from the crosses S-16×A9945 and S-16×9958, respectively. TheS-16 parent was an F₁ hybrid from the cross A8800×A10421. A9945 (PI206427), A9958 (PI 251809), A9959 (PI 253302), Colorado, and A8800 (PI269370) are clonal accessions from Turkey, Italy, Yugoslavia, Colorado,and Afghanistan, respectively. Several hundred F₁ hybrid plants frommany crosses, including 74X 12-11×74X 12-12, were initially screened ina planting at Lake Carl Blackwell during the period 1985 through 1987.The LCB 84X 16-66 hybrid was one of several plants selected from thisnursery for further evaluation.

LCB 84X 16-66 has larger stems and wider leaves, and produces a moredense sod compared to “hay type” varieties like Midland, Midland 99, andTifton 44, LCB 84X 16-66. It is typically lower growing (less tall) aswell. The stem size and leaf width of LCB 84X 16-66 is much greatercompared to “grazing type” varieties like Greenfield and World Feeder.The height of LCB 84X 16-66 is typically greater, while the sod densityis somewhat less compared to the grazing type varieties. LCB 84X 16-66produces many large, fleshy rhizomes that contribute to lateral spreadduring establishment. Lateral spread is also achieved by growth ofstolons.

LCB 84X 16-66 is highly infertile, producing only very few seed whengrown in the presence of an effective pollinator. Consequently, it mustbe propagated asexually. Chromosome number has not yet been determined.It is likely a tetraploid with 2n=4x=36 chromosomes.

LCB 84X 16-66 is propagated by conventional sprigging. It producesvigorous underground rhizomes and crown buds that function as vegetativepropagules. Though not evaluated in a controlled experiment, itsestablishment characteristics (sprig viability, rate-of-spread) appearto be at least as good, and possibly superior to those of Midland,Midland 99, and Tifton 44. It's rate-of-spread probably is not as rapidas some of the aggressive “common” type varieties like Greenfield andWorld Feeder. A sprig planting rate of 30 or more bushels/acre, combinedwith good weed control and fertility management is recommended to hastenestablishment.

Biomass production has been evaluated in trials at Haskell, Okla.(Eastern Research Station), Chickasha, Okla. (South Central ResearchStation), Goodwell, Okla. (Oklahoma Panhandle Research & ExtensionCenter), and Mound Valley, Kans. (Kansas State University SoutheastAgricultural Research Center). Biomass performance of LCB 84X 16-66relative to standard varieties has been best in irrigated (˜6 acreinches/month during growing season) tests at Goodwell, Okla. In Tests97-1 and 2003-1 at Goodwell, LCB 84 X 16-66 produced significantly(P>0.05) more biomass than all standard varieties except Ozark (Tables 1and 2). In tests at Haskell [Test 98-1 (Table 3); Test 2001-1 (Table 4)]and Chickasha [Test 98-2 (Table 5); Test 2001-2 (Table 6)] LCB 84X 16-66produced less biomass than the best hay type varieties (Midland 99,Ozark, Tifton 44), but more biomass than the grazing type varieties(e.g. Greenfield). At Mound Valley, Kans., its biomass yield was notsignificantly greater than the yields of Ozark and Hardie, butsignificantly greater than Tifton 44, Midland, Greenfield, and WorldFeeder (Table 7).

Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy predicted values for neutraldetergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, acid detergent lignin, crudeprotein and digestible dry matter for samples collected during 1986-87suggest its nutritional value is at least equal to that of Tifton 44 andMidland (Table 8).

There have been no reports or observations of any unusual and/or severeinsect or disease problems with LCB 84X 16-66. Leaf disease on LCB 84X16-66 has been minimal when other bermudagrass varieties showed severeinfections. The principal leaf spotting disease of bermudagrass causedby Bipolaris cynodontis is a major cause of performance (stand andbiomass) decline in humid environments.

LCB 84X 16-66 has maintained good stands at all locations where it hasbeen tested (Chickasha, Haskell, Goodwell, Stillwater, and Mound Valley,Kans.). These results indicate its good adaptation to at least thebermudagrass growing area north of central Oklahoma. The consistent goodperformance of LCB 84X 16-66 at Goodwell appears to be related, at leastin part, to good freeze tolerance. It has showed no winter injury atGoodwell during the period 1998 through 2006. In the Goodwell tests, ithas consistently been the earliest, or among the earliest, varieties toinitiate spring growth. It also demonstrated excellent winter survivaland spring greenup at Mound Valley, Kans.

LCB 84X 16-66 was tested under pivot irrigation near Goodwell, Okla. forthe past 3 years by a local farmer under a memorandum-of-agreement. Aninitial 60 acres was established in 2004 and the remaining 60 acresunder the irrigation circle was established in 2005. Establishment wasgood for both plantings, but better for the 2004 planting compared tothe 2005 planting. Stocker cattle grazed the initially established 60acres during the 2005 growing season. The farmer reported the following:an initial stocking rate of 5.28 head/acre (317 animals on 60 acres);100 animals weighed off at 95 days gained 1.78 lbs./day; season-longtotal gain from all animals ˜53,000 pounds, with an average daily gainof ˜1.5 pounds. Gains of stocker cattle grazing the 120 acres during the2006 growing season were not good (≦˜0.5 lbs./day), though carryingcapacity continued very high. Reasons for the poor performance in 2006are unknown, but possible contributing factors were: 1) relatively poorquality of the stocker animals, and 2) excessive maturity of thebermudagrass and consequent low nutritional value.

The farmer has over-seeded the LCB 84X 16-66 with small grains eachfall, beginning in fall 2004. This has been easily accomplished andhighly successful. Growers of World Feeder bermudagrass in the sameregion have had difficulty interseeding cool-season species, apparentlydue to its greater sod density. The farmer highly values ability toeasily inter-seed cool season species into LCB 84X 16-66.

The farmer also grows cool-season perennial grasses (bromegrass,orchardgrass) under irrigation circles. He believes the warm-seasonbermudagrass enhances his stocker grazing forage system. Additionally,he believes that the bermudagrass offers significant opportunity as haycrop in the High Plains region under irrigation.

Data from field trials and observational plantings indicate LCB 84X16-66 to be well-adapted to production under irrigation in the Oklahomapanhandle and adjacent areas of the High Plains. Accordingly, thetargeted use of the variety is in this region under irrigation. It hasproduced lower biomass yields than Tifton 44 and Midland 99 in tests atChickasha and Haskell. However, even in bermudagrass growing areasoutside the High Plains, LCB 84X 16-66 may have some advantage overvarieties like Midland, Midland 99, and Tifton 44 relative to fasterestablishment and a more dense sod that better resists weedencroachment.

For the High Plains region, the closest competitor of LCB 84X 16-66among commercial bermudagrass varieties is Ozark. Both combine excellentwinter hardiness and very high biomass production capability in thisregion. LCB 84X 16-66 has generally initiated spring growth slightlyearlier than Ozark at Goodwell, suggesting an edge in winter hardiness.The greater sod density of LCB 84X 16-66 compared to Ozark may bedesirable when used for grazing at high stocking levels (more resistantto trampling injury). Conversely, the generally taller growth of Ozarkcompared to LCB 84X 16-66 may make it more attractive to producers whenthe intended use is primarily or solely for hay production. The greatersod density of LCB 84X 16-66 compared to Ozark should also make it moreresistant to weed encroachment.

TABLE 1 Forage yields (tons dry matter/acre) of commercial andexperimental bermudagrass varieties in Test 1997-1, Oklahoma PanhandleResearch and Extension Center, Goodwell OK. 1998-2003. Harvest Year 19981999 2000 2001 2002 2003 6-yr Variety 4-cuts 4-cuts 4-cuts 4-cuts 4-cuts4-cuts Mean Commercial Varieties - Available for Farm Use Ozark 11.84*8.00* 9.94* 14.53* 13.25* 15.10* 12.11* Midland 99 10.16 7.60 8.53 13.0012.86 13.48 10.94 Hardie 12.99** 8.03* 7.98 13.21 10.94 11.82 10.83Midland 8.64 5.32 7.47 11.85 12.06 12.66 9.66 Guymon 9.65 4.49 5.5111.16 11.60 12.20 9.23 Tifton 44 9.23 5.48 6.98 10.39 11.00 12.34 9.10Wrangler 10.00 4.59 5.55 10.25 11.76 11.66 8.97 Quickstand 9.86 5.776.04 10.76 9.17 10.74 8.72 Greenfield 8.91 4.18 5.24 9.73 10.86 13.158.68 Experimental Varieties - Not Available for Farm Use ERS 94X 2-811.65* 8.99* 10.29** 13.10 14.80** 15.97** 12.46** LCB 84X 16-66 11.93*8.60* 8.86 16.07* 14.51* 14.49* 12.41* LCB 84X 19-16 11.59* 9.74** 8.5116.24** 13.89* 14.02* 12.33* CD 90160 11.75* 6.85 7.56 13.30 13.67*13.35 11.08 ERS 94X 13-9 9.48 6.45 7.95 13.00 13.30* 15.53* 10.95 SCRS-C10.61 5.85 7.39 11.43 10.98 11.93 9.70 ERS 94X 5-12 9.23 5.57 6.31 11.1012.29 13.57 9.66 ERS-C 8.82 4.76 5.50 9.75 11.00 13.14 8.83 A-12199 7.615.03 5.20 9.95 9.94 11.53 8.21 ERS 94X 6-13 8.08 5.07 6.13 7.69 9.0411.28 7.88 Mean 10.11 6.33 7.21 11.91 11.94 13.05 10.09 CV (%) 16 20 1115 13 13 15 5% LSD 2.34 1.77 1.09 2.60 2.14 2.39 0.85 **Highestnumerical value in column. *Not significantly different from the highestnumerical value in the column based on 5% LSD.

TABLE 2 Forage yields of bermudagrass varieties in Test 2003-1, OklahomaPanhandle Research & Extension Center, Goodwell, OK. 2004-2006. Year2004 2005 2006 3-Cuts 4-Cuts 3-Cuts Variety Dry tons/acre Mean LCB 84X16-66 11.56** 12.28* 13.75** 12.53** Ozark 10.48* 12.66** 13.22* 12.12*Midland 99 10.32* 10.12 12.63* 11.02 A-12245 9.85* 10.82* 11.54* 10.74Tifton 44 10.15* 10.25 11.69* 10.69 Vaughn's #1 8.99 9.22 8.89 9.03World Feeder 8.70 7.87 8.82 8.46 Scay Greenfield 8.90 7.14 7.51 7.85Shrimplin 5.71 6.27 7.65 6.54 Mean 9.41 9.63 10.63 9.89 CV (%) 15.0516.77 18.20 16.89 5% LSD 2.07 2.36 2.82 1.36

TABLE 3 Forage yields (tons dry matter/acre) of commercial andexperimental bermudagrass varieties in Test 98-1, Eastern ResearchStation, Haskell, OK. 1999 2000 2001 2002 4-Yr Varieties 4-Cuts 4-Cuts3-Cuts 4-Cuts Mean Commercial Varieties - Available for Farm Use Midland99 9.03* 8.47 7.38** 8.73 8.40* Tifton 44 7.57 7.93 5.65 7.82 7.24Greenfield 6.52 5.65 3.69 6.10 5.49 Experimental Varieties - NotAvailable for Farm Use ERS 94X 2-8 10.24** 9.82** 5.99 7.91 8.49** LCB84X 19-16 8.71 9.16* 7.11* 8.56 8.38* ERS 94X 13-9 7.09 7.93 6.38 7.957.33 LCB 84X 16-66 8.70 7.51 5.59 6.76 7.14 ERS 94X 5-12 7.26 7.28 4.757.61 6.72 ERS 94X 6-13 7.76 7.62 5.16 6.11 6.66 SCRS-C 6.83 7.17 5.797.66 5.40 ERS-C 5.78 5.93 3.43 6.46 5.40 A12199 5.23 5.95 3.71 6.00 5.22Mean 7.56 7.53 5.38 7.30 6.94 CV(%) 12.7 8.7 12.5 9.0 10.6 5% LSD 1.380.94 0.97 0.94 0.51 **Highest numerical value in column *Notsignificantly different from the highest numerical value in the columnbased on 5% LSD

TABLE 4 Forage yields (tons dry matter/acre) of commercial andexperimental bermudagrass varieties in Test 2001-1, Eastern ResearchStation, Haskell, OK. 2002-2004. Year 2002 2003 2004 Variety 4-cuts4-cuts 3-cuts Mean Commercial Varieties - Available for Farm Use Ozark11.71** 10.80* 10.62** 11.04** Midland 99 11.49* 10.32 10.54* 10.78*Tifton 44 10.90* 10.22 10.35* 10.49 Experimental Varieties - NotAvailable for Farm Use A-12245 11.44* 11.44** 9.97* 10.95* ERS16S-410.97* 11.10* 9.61 10.56* ERS16S-10 11.31* 9.84 9.65 10.27 A-12246 10.519.38 10.51* 10.13 ERS16S-2 10.61 10.23 9.37 10.07 ERS16S-3 9.89 9.449.90 9.74 ERS16S-7 10.89 9.06 9.23 9.73 ERS16S-9 10.62 9.97 8.45 9.68ERS16S-6 10.20 9.15 9.12 9.49 ERS16S-1 9.73 9.10 8.79 9.21 ERS16S-8 9.298.48 9.45 9.08 LCB 84X 16-66 9.61 9.68 7.70 8.99 A-12244 9.03 7.53 9.328.63 ERS16S-5 8.13 8.01 8.18 8.11 Mean 10.37 9.63 9.46 9.82 CV (%) 6.895.95 5.17 6.10 5% LSD 1.02 0.81 0.69 0.48 **Highest numerical value incolumn *Not significantly different from the highest numerical value inthe column based on 5% LSD

TABLE 5 Forage yields (tons dry matter/acre) of commercial andexperimental bermudagrass varieties in Test 98-2, South Central ResearchStation, Chickasha, OK. 1999-2002. Harvest Year 1999 2000 2001 2002 4-YrVariety 4-Cuts 4-Cuts 4-Cuts 4-Cuts Mean Commercial Varieties -Available for Farm Use Midland 99 13.11* 10.97* 9.28** 9.14** 10.62**Tifton 44 12.03 12.26** 7.65 8.45* 10.10* Greenfield 8.91 6.73 4.04 5.526..30 Experimental Varieties - Not Available for Farm Use ERS 94X 2-814.21** 10.31* 8.68* 6.80 10.00* LCB 84X 19-16 11.72 10.10* 8.41* 7.929.54 ERS 94X 13-9 10.95 10.36* 8.53* 8.02 9.46 SCRS-C 11.69 10.40* 7.357.26 9.17 LCB 84X 16-66 13.00* 7.46 6.08 6.82 8.34 ERS 94X 6-13 10.438.90 6.20 4.99 7.63 A12199 8.56 7.21 6.03 6.15 6.98 ERS 94X 5-12 9.016.82 5.72 6.02 6.89 ERS-C 8.81 4.98 3.32 4.32 5.36 Mean 11.03 8.87 6.776.78 8.37 CV (%) 12.9 18.0 14.3 18.3 15.7 5% LSD 2.05 2.30 1.39 1.790.92 **Highest numerical value in column *Not significantly differentfrom the highest numerical value in the column based on 5%

TABLE 6 Forage yields (tons dry matter/acre) of commercial andexperimental bermudagrass varieties in Test 2001-2, South CentralResearch Station, Chickasha, OK. 2002-2005. Harvest Year 2002 2003 20042005 Mean¹ 4 cuts 4 cuts 3 cuts 2 cuts 2002-05 2003-05 Variety TonsDM/acre Midland 10.97* 10.91* 10.77** 7.04* 9.92* 9.57** 99 Ozark¹ —10.36* 10.06* 7.35** — 9.26* Tifton 11.72* 10.19* 9.78* 5.17 9.26 8.4544 A12246 12.04** 10.95* 10.74* 6.50* 10.06** 9.40* A12245 11.82* 11.05*10.15* 5.61 9.66* 8.94* ERS16S 11.44* 11.22** 9.54* 5.92 9.53* 8.89* 03ERS16S 12.44* 10.14* 9.20 5.98 9.44 8.44 04 ERS16S 9.98 9.67 9.10 6.188.73 8.31 08 ERS16S 10.37 9.24 9.08 4.74 8.36 7.69 01 LCB 10.08 8.748.91 4.80 8.13 7.48 84X16- 66 A12244 9.73 8.30 7.86 4.56 7.61 6.91ERS16S 9.79 9.05 7.47 3.89 7.55 6.80 05 Mean 10.94 9.98 9.40 5.64 8.938.34 5% 1.30 1.49 1.25 1.01 0.59 0.71 LSD CV (%) 8.21 10.36 9.22 12.459.92 10.52 ¹Ozark yields were not measured in 2002 due to herbicideinjury. Ozark plots had recovered by 2003. Plots received 300 lbs.N/acre/yr applied in three equal applications

TABLE 7 Forage yields of bermudagrass varieties and experimental linesat Kansas State University Southeast Agricultural Research Center, MoundValley, KS. 1993-1995. Year 1993 1994 1995 3-Yr Entry Tons/acre @ 12%moisture Mean 74X 11-2 5.91 9.54 7.81 7.75 LCB 84X 16-66 6.31 8.18 6.286.92 LCB 84X 19-16 6.05 8.36 6.04 6.82 Ozark 4.60 8.10 7.73 6.69 LCB 84X15-49 6.04 8.01 5.92 6.65 Hardie 5.97 7.85 6.04 6.62 74X 12-12 6.12 7.226.52 6.62 LCB 84X 9-45 6.38 7.52 5.70 6.53 LCB 84X 19-31 5.74 7.41 5.966.37 Tifton 44 5.23 7.05 5.79 6.02 LCB 84X 14-31 5.88 6.99 4.58 5.82 LCB84X 19-23 5.54 6.52 4.75 5.60 LCB 84X 12-28 5.94 6.04 4.22 5.40 LCB 84X15-26 5.10 5.16 5.18 5.14 Midland 4.40 5.88 4.86 5.05 LCB 84X 21-57 5.244.25 4.74 4.74 LCB 84X 18-62 4.62 4.88 4.43 4.64 Greenfield 4.54 4.284.81 4.54 World Feeder 4.11 4.30 4.44 4.28 LCB 84X 16-55 4.28 3.86 3.884.00 Mean 5.40 6.57 5.45 5.81 5% LSD 0.59 0.79 0.82

TABLE 8 Mean neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF),acid detergent lignin (ADL), crude protein (CP), and in vitro digestibledry matter (IVDMD) of Midland, Tifton 44, and LCB 84X 16-66 bermudagrasscultivars. Stillwater, OK, 1986-87. Quality trait NDF ADF ADL CP IVDMDCultivar g kg⁻¹ LCB 84X 16- 720 342 38 135 604 66 Tifton 44 762 334 38121 553 Midland 725 331 40 138 553 Values are means of six samplingdates (Jun. 17, 1986, Jul. 17, 1986, Aug. 22, 1986, Jun. 25, 1987, Aug.19, 1987, Oct. 5, 1987). Plots were unreplicated.

1. A bermudagrass plant substantially as described and illustrated inthe specification herein.